ELKO — As the sole owner and operator of Cook’s Steakhouse, Ericia Cook is constantly on the clock, handling everything from meal preparation to advertising. Failure is never an option, she said.
Instead, she said she pushes forward, tackling whatever she needs to accomplish for the day.
Chris Boyd, Cook’s backup, assists with her workload and handles the steakhouse bar.
She also was responsible for building the restaurant, with its log beam ceilings and Western interior, during the COVID-19 pandemic. She handcrafted the wooden barrel tables, the high black chairs and the wood-and-stone bar. “This is what I’ve always wanted to do,” she said. Her restaurant has thrived just across from Commercial Street and Railroad Street for four years now.
With an extensive background in food service, Cook moved between several aspects of preparing and delivering food.
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“I’ve dealt cards and I was a pit boss for a few years, a long time ago. And then I moved here and I managed a bar here and a restaurant and then I started my own catering, called Happy Cooks Catering.”
After a few years, Cook took over the restaurant at Spring Creek Golf Course. She built Cook’s Steakhouse while also owning the Spring Creek restaurant. Due to work shortages after COVID-19, she pivoted to focusing entirely on Cook’s Steakhouse.
The restaurant offers more than just food, hosting events which bring the Elko community together, Cook explained.
“We put out our first annual Music Fest last year to help up-and-coming musicians and we’re doing our second annual one this August 17,” she said. “We’re raising money for the Elko High School music program.”
As the parking lot and road adjacent to the steakhouse building are private property, they make an ideal space for food and entertainment, and Cook is able to use the space for music performances. This year’s festival will feature several food trucks and vendors, she said.
In addition, Cook’s Steakhouse hosts full weddings. The restaurant’s spacious back patio offers plenty of room for private gatherings.
“We can do the bar, the food, the venue; we have everything on the back patio. We’ve had several weddings out there including my own,” she said.
“We’re the only place in town that does open mic night,” Cook added. “We did an open mic night every third Thursday last year on the back patio, weather permitting, and we are the only place in town with live music every single weekend.”
Community involvement is a key part of her business. “We just did our third year of raising money for Zero Suicides Elko County,” she said.
Cook’s Steakhouse also plans a fundraiser for Endless Pawsibilities Animal Rescue, which will spread awareness of their efforts to protect and adopt out Elko County pets, Boyd said. Visitors can expect a fun- and activity-filled atmosphere similar to that at the music festival, Cook noted.
“We try to highlight anyone else who does these small business affairs where they’re just starting out and they need more exposure,” Boyd said. “We try to be a catalyst for them to get the exposure that they need and the awareness that they’re trying to bring.”
Cook and Boyd shared what kind of popular dishes Cook’s Steakhouse has served up lately.
“We just came up with it: I stuff an eight-ounce filet mignon with beef brisket and gruyere cheese and wrap it in bacon, and it is amazing. It’s been one of our top sellers,” Cook said.
Boyd mentioned the Tuscan chicken and sausage gnocchi. “Definitely lots of layers of flavors in that one as well. It’s very popular since we’ve put that on our specials,” Boyd said.
“We also have a good steak sandwich here. It was nominated for best steak sandwich in Elko County three years in a row,” he said.
What kind of perspective does Boyd have to offer women who want to become restaurateurs?
“As it is with a lot of female business owners, they get told ‘no’ more than men,” he said. “And they have to fight a little bit harder. And that’s the most you can do, just stand up strong. Show them what you’re made of.”